Exchangeable concentrate container for beverage dispensing machines

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing a liquid beverage concentrate comprises a concente reservoir, a resilient dispensing tube having one end in communication with the reservoir via a non-return valve opening into the tube and having an opposite dispensing end provided with a non-return valve opening outwardly, and a pressure fluid device for squeezing a portion of the dispensing tube so as to force a quantity of concentrate through the dispensing end of the tube, the pressure fluid device including a deformable sleeve loosely fitting over the tube and separating the tube from the pressure fluid.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for storing and transporting coffee concentrate and dispensing increments of the concentrate comprising: an exchangeable disposable dispensing unit including a reservoir containing coffee concentrate and having a rigid neck with an open end defining an outlet, means on the open end forming a first non-return valve, an inner collapsible tube disposed about said neck and forming with said reservoir an integral unit for receiving concentrate from said reservoir via said first non-return valve, said tube extending longitudinally and being of resiliency so as to be collapsible, and a one-way outwardly opening valve on the free end of said inner tube,   means for dispensing a metered amount of concentrate including an outer collapsible tube disposed about said inner tube, a housing mounted about said tubes and spaced from said outer tube to form an annular space, and a pipe for supplying fluid to said space at a pressure in the range of 1-6 atomospheres to collapse said tube and dispense an increment of concentrate wherein said increment does not vary in volume with further increases in pressure.